Real Estate & Relocation ^ Colorado

Announcing Denver Real Estate Relocation...We are moving!

Everyone needs to move once in awhile. This blog is moving to a brand spanking new WordPress Blog over at Denver Dwellings. 

If all goes well your browser will be redirected to Denver Dwellings.  If you are in a big hurry, just click on the Denver Real Estate link and you will make the FASTEST relocation ever!

If you are one of my wonderful blogroll people, please change my links to Denver Dwellings I now reside at http://www.kristalsellsdenver.com/DenverDwellings !

See ya!

Tenants find themselves Homeless...

Modern day Carpet baggers are taking advantage of the public in a different way. Homeowners are renting their homes to tenants, collecting the rent and not paying the mortgage.

This practice is called “Equity Skimming.” While the homeowner, who many times pass themselves off as “investors” legally own the home, they fail in their obligation to keep the mortgage current.

Time is on the Equity Skimmers side, for only so long. Eventually the tenant will come home one day to find a “eviction notice” taped to the door. When that happens, the tenant has little choice but to move out. Seldom does the new owner (the bank) honor the lease. They want the property sold and quickly. That means you will be asked to move.

Eviction notices that are ignored are followed by the Sheriff arriving and physically having you and your possessions place at the curb. It’s not a pretty sight. continue ...

Cast Your Vote...

Election year is coming up, that's true.  I am asking for your vote, but not in a political mode.  My son is a finalist in the KYGO Casting Call.  He is one of five finalists to win some cash and a trip to the Country Music Awards.

All I ask is you go view the video (Richard Wimberly's) and if you like it, vote for him.

Here's the link to vote:

Broom Crisis Hits Denver Metro

Recently I've become aware of a serious shortage in the Denver Metro area.  Yesterday I promised my out of state home seller I would clean up a mess left by the landscapers.  It was an easy 20 minute job of sweeping dirt off the sidewalk.  No problem! I enjoy making things look better than when I found them so off to Home Depot I went to buy a fresh new broom.

No luck.  I ventured to Lowes.  Still no luck.  I went to Target, zero score.  I drove to (yuck) Walmart, zilch.  King Soopers, Safeway still no brooms.  Not even at Whole Foods could I even find a earth-friendly handmade imported green sweeper!

What's up? I called my Realtor friends in Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Boulder and Loveland.  They reported the same problem.  My son who works in Broomfield must certainly be able to find me a broom, nope!  Zack said "Mom, it's hopeless!"

We are living in a Broomless state!

I wonder if the shortage of brooms has something to do with the rain forest people getting their way finally?  Could it be the bristles are in short supply? Where do bristles come from anyway? Pig whiskers? 

Oh well it doesn't matter why there is shortage.  What is important that we get the word out.  If you are relocating to Denver or moving to Colorado in fact, you better bring your own broom. 

Guess that means we are a BYOB state.

Go Rockies! We love you!

Denver restaurant review

A Denver food place is serving up a new dish.

Go Rockies!

Denver real estate sales statistics ~ August 2007

The Berkshire Group keeps statistics on a monthly basis regarding home sales in the Denver Metropolitan area.  Looking at the past helps us forecast the future.  Here you can learn about Denver's average home sale price, average days on market, the current Denver absorption rate and the list to sale ratio.  If you would like information about years past, please visit the Denver Real Estate website.

August 2007

Metro Denver Prices:

 

Metro Denver Prices:

                                                                                                                                                       

Single Family Average Price: (Detached Dwelling)		Aug 2007	$329,783
		Jul 2007	$316,024
		Aug 2006	$320,092
Condo Average Price: (Attached Dwelling)		Aug 2007	$182,741
		Jul 2007	$192,885
		Aug 2006	$196,659
Combined Average Price:		Aug 2007	$298,466
		Jul 2007	$289,294
		Aug 2006	$292,973
Percent of Sales Price Change: from August 2006 to August 2007		Single Family:	3.03%
		Condo:	-7.08%
		Combined	1.87%
Total Combined Number of Homes for Sale:		Aug 2007	30,827
		Jul 2007	30,272
		Aug 2006	31,664
Percent of Change in Available Inventory: (August 2006 vs. August 2007)			-2.64%
Number of Combined Homes Sold this month		Aug 2007	5,010
vs. previous month		Jul 2007	4,980
vs. same month last year		Aug 2006	5,025
Average days on Market: (Combined Sales)		Aug 2007	94.13
		Jul 2007	94.78
		Aug 2006	98.37
Absorption Rate: (number of weeks necessary to sell current combined inventory at current rate of sales)		Aug 2007	26.66 weeks
		Jul 2007	26.34 weeks
		Aug 2006	27.31 weeks
Median Sold Price:Single Family		Aug 2007	$257,500
		Jul 2007	$255,000
		Aug 2006	$252,900
Condo		Aug 2007	$152,500
		Jul 2007	$158,000
		Aug 2006	$160,000

Liftoff!

Early this morning the balloons lifted off in the Rocky Mountain Balloon Festival.  I was shooting pictures up at  Roxborough Park above the balloon site.  It was so windy where I was, I didn't think the balloons would fly.  As I descended Long's Lookout I looked to the north and what a lovely site it was!  At least 50 balloons airborne against the horizon.

The Festival continues through Sunday.  Oh yes, there's a Balloon Glow this evening, if I can stay awake that long, I'll be there!

BTW photo was shot with a 400mm lens, f10 @ 1/500 sec.  As I said I was a few miles away as the crow flies.

Denver Children's Hospital Moves Up in Rank

Denver, Colorado

U.S. News & World Report lists the top 30 hospitals in the U.S. Denver's Children's Hospital moved up to the #4 place after being #7 last year.  Children's Hospital will be relocating to the Fitzsimons Medical Campus in Aurora this October 2007.

The top 10 hospitals are:

1. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
2. Children's Hospital Boston
3. Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore
4. The Children's Hospital, Denver
5. Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Cleveland
6. Texas Children's Hospital, Houston
7. Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
8. New York-Presbyterian University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell
9. Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, Seattle
10. Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Palo Alto, Calif.

Congratulations to Children's Hospital for all the fine work you do for Children and their families!  You service has not gone unnoticed.

Home Values Increase in Cherry Creek High School District

The actually home value increases aren't in yet, but since John Elway has agreed to be the Football Coach at Cherry Creek High School, values are bound to increase.

How many kids want to be coached by #7?

Alot.

Operators are standing by to take calls for the neighborhoods of Greenwood Village, Cherry Hills and Centennial.  Real Estate values will be spiking...throw that ball John!

Be careful of what you say!

Cruising around the blogisphere this morning brought me to a very good post on Real Estate Undressed.  Mr. Larry Cragin posted photos of bears playing on a children's playset.  I loved the photos of the adorable bears having a wonderful time! They must have thought the playset was provided just for them.

Naturally I brain traveled back in a time to an earlier date this year when I was showing homes.  My clients and I arrived at a lovely home on Bell Mountain in Castle Rock. The owners were home and proudly showed us around, describing every detail of their obviously loved home.

Our conversation turned to the large lot that backed up to open space. Mr. Seller  shared with us his experience with a bear in his back yard.  His exciting rendition of how the bear rambled across the back yard one morning triggered the fear factor in my clients.

Being from the city they failed to understand the beauty of having a large wild animal appear at random in their back yard.

Needless to say, without any question Mr. Seller talked himself out of selling his home.  Oops!

The good intentions a seller may have many times are not received as intended.

In the past I've had sellers meet us at the house and droll on about home features my buyers absolutely didn't want.  Of course the buyers would never be so bold as to tell the homeowner the feature was not their preference, they politely let the seller continue.

As an agent for the buyer, we seldom need the seller to step in for a tour.  In fact, I would rather not have the seller there, at least the first time.  Later when the transaction turns to reality, the buyers and sellers can and should get together to discuss the finer details of the home.  But certainly not prior to the decision to buy.

To a seller letting go of your home when you feel so strongly toward it is difficult.  Yes, you know it well, but the best thing to do is leave.  The pain of not being able to say anything for fear it is the wrong thing may be too great to bare.

No pun intended...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Colorado is  home to many wild animals, having them in your back yard is not a common occurence, but it does happen.  When faced with a bear the best thing is to not turn and run.  The last thing you want to do is look like food!

Bear cubs as adorable as they are, should never ever be approached. Mama will be near by and she will most assuredly object to her babies associating with a two legged creature.

Bear meetings should be avoided at all costs.

Friends don't let the flowers drink too much

Denver has a humorous water conservation campaign going on now.  If you would like to pledge to save water please visit the Use Only What You Need Site.  (Even if you don't live in Denver visit the site, it's worth the trip! I promise!)

Denver real estate sales

Across the board the average list/sale ratio is 97% in Denver metro.  Douglas county to the south it is 98%. Interesting the stats in Boulder (for the Denver listings) are 96%.  Boulder has it's own MLS but many agents are members of both.  I don't know it the Denver stats match those of Boulder's own.

These year to date stats show to the public the homes that are selling are priced right.  We still have 27,858 homes on the market (-4.09% than same time last year).

Our average price is $322,510. The absorption rate is 27.44 weeks.

Construction Site Entertainment

In Colorado we see construction everywhere.  However there is one construction site that is amazing beyond words.  It is the Lone Tree Medical Plaza on 9596 S. Yosemite Street in Lone Tree.

Three years ago Douglas County, Colorado became home to the newly constructed Skyridge Medical Center.  This new hospital has been a huge draw to the area for medical office buildings.  The latest new addition to the neighborhood is using the most modern building techniques.

The largest mobile crane has been put to work hoisting the heaviest tilt-up, site-cast concrete wall panel.  This 3 story medical building will cost $18 million and should be done by fall '07.

Enjoy the photos!

 

A Foot Bridge Connects the City

Highland Bridge

Downtown  Denver and NW Denver are separated by a busy Interstate.  Pedestrians who wish to go back and forth have had to use the auto bridges. 

Now thanks to the new pedestrian bridge across I-25 folks can easily traverse the highway.  The bridge is still undergoing some finishing touches, but it's open. 

The foot traffic doesn't seem to mind that the bridge isn't finished.  In fact the day I took this photo, the traffic going back and forth was amazing.  Walkers, joggers and cyclists were making their way back and forth.

Off hand I'd say this bridge is a huge success! 

It doesn't matter which way you are going there is something to do or see on both sides. 

Northwest Denver is a very special part of the city with many retail shops, bakeries, and corner grocery stores. 

On the Downtown side of the bridge the immediate neighborhood is known as Riverfront.  Here one has access to Elitch Gardens a Six Flags Amusement Park, Invesco Field at Mile High (Go Broncos!), Coors Field (Yeah Colorado Rockies!), Downtown Aquarium, Pepsi Center (home to Nuggets and Avalanche) Children's Museum, Denver Center of the Performing Arts and the REI store.

Cyclists using the bridge will be happy to know it is not necessary to dismount, just slow down and use the ramp. The Platte River Greenway is right there.  You can go east to Cherry Creek, south to Chatfield or north to well let's say Wyoming!

Denver is not only the Base Camp for the Rockies, but an awesome playground for anyone who wants to be active and enjoy the movement of life.

Get out and enjoy it!

Colorado Rejoins Top 10 Fastest-Growing States

Colorado regained its place as one of the top 10 fastest-growing states this year, thanks to an influx of residents from other states.  A U.S. Census Bureau report shows that Colorado's population rose 1.9 percent to 4,753,377 people between July 2005 and July 2006.  That was the eight-highest growth rate in the United States.  Last year, the state was 11th. Since the 2000 census, Colorado has grown by 10.5 percent, ranking eighth national ally.  At that pace, it should reach 5 million people by 2010, according to projections by the state demographer's office.

Relocation to Denver, Colorado

Hot Copper

The rising cost of metals is fueling crimes being committed around the country.  People are stripping buildings and construction sites of copper. 

Home builders deal with thieves all the time.  The vacant homes are vulnerable to such stripping because no one is around to question the thief.

Jim Lee a Realtor in Tennessee was in the process of selling a home when the thieves struck, stripping the home of all the copper.

The issue has become so troublesome in Colorado Rep Nancy Todd, D-Aurora is sponsoring HB-1141.  The bill will require a commodity metal buyer to record the seller's I.D. and get a statement from the seller about where the metal was obtained.

The question is, "will thieves tell the truth?"

When builders, insurance companies and home owners are faced with costs to cover replacing copper in homes, the consumer ends up paying too.

As a good neighbor, remember it's ok to call the police when something doesn't look quite right.  Let's do our part to enforce the law.  All it takes is a telephone call.

<photo credits Jon Helgason - FOTOLIA>

Art Lovers Alert!

Ideas, entertainment, inspiration all shall be fulfilled on the First Friday Art Walk.  Saunter over to Santa Fe for the traditional cultural fest of enjoying the local art.  Vastly popular and getting more-so every month, the Art Walk is supported by many of the Galleries, restaurants and book stores along the six block stretch of Denver's Santa Fe Drive.

Walking from gallery to gallery is easy, as they are gathered within close distance.  You will enjoy seeing art from local, national and international artists in over 30 studios or galleries.  The Art Walk boasts many regulars, but welcomes newcomers.  It is held all year round.

Getting there is easy; ride the RTD Light Rail to the Osage Station and look for the shuttle with the big orange dot The time varies, usually activities begin at 5 but depending on the Galleries ends between 8 & 9.   

If you are like me and never remember events until you read about them after they occur, get up right now and mark you calendar...

I'll see you on Santa Fe!

<The photo is Americo Makk dedicating his piece of art ~ taken in Breckenridge 2007>

32 Days of Snow on the Ground

Typing out the name of this post reminded me of the song we used to sing on school trips, 99 bottles of beer on the wall....you know the words.  Well in the bottles in the song get progressively less, while the number of days on snow on the ground is increasing.

We are so OVER it!  In my many years in Colorado I have never seen snow stick about this long.  Each week over the past 5 weeks we have been getting a significant amount of snow.  The only good news is the more efficient manner in which the snow is being removed.  This morning my street had actually been plowed prior to my leaving the house. 

The snow is effecting the construction crews.  With such depths they are having a hard time meeting schedules and finding a place to put the stuff.  I've seen big trucks hauling the snow away.  I have no idea where they are going, but like most people I'm so glad to see it gone.

We need some nice normal sunny Colorado days.  The weather man almost promised the worst is over...I hope he's right!

Watch your step...

After a snow storm every week, with little rise in temps we are dealing with lots of snow.  The side streets (as pictured) are dangerous for pedestrians and challenging for cars. 

I got stuck merely traversing this in my car.  A little rocking back and forth got me out, thankfully.

Accident numbers are increasing, people are checking into the emergency room for falls with injuries to wrists, hips and legs.  Be careful out there!

Denver's Top Dog

The American Kennel Club registrations indicate the Top Dogs of Denver...

• Labrador Retriever
• Golden Retriever
• German Shepherd
• Boxer
• Bulldog
• Dachshund
• German Shorthaired Pointer
• Yorkshire terrier
• Poodle
• Pug

Republic Airways is hiring

Partnering with Frontier, Republic Airlines will be holding recruiting sessions at DIA to fill flight attendant slots.  The expansion of Republic will include 17 new planes for Frontier's regional jet service.   Online application are available at http://www.jobs.rjet.com

Considering all the new activity going on at DIA these days, I should think someone would be interested in buying my listing the Denver Crash Pad.  Its a fully furnished condo, located a mere 7 minutes from DIA employee parking.  The former owner is a retired Airline Pilot who barely used the place.  Be sure to check out the virtual tour.  The home is priced to include all the furnishings, from the kitchen  utensils to the sofa and artwork.  Price $137,900! 

So Airline employees, make your layover in Denver a pleasant stay all the time.  Buy it for yourself or put together a co-op group  and buy it together.  Don't let it get away, call today!

Republic Airways Holdings owns Chautauqua Airlines, Republic Airlines and Shuttle America.  DIA is home to United Airlines, TED, Southwest, Jet Blue, and many others.

Metro Denver Schools ~ Open Enrollment Deadlines

It's the time of year when students can choose to migrate to a new school in a new district if they can be accepted.  The following links for each school district will help to locate information regarding deadlines and addititonal information.

Adams County ~ Adams County School District 12
720-972-4055

Applications can be obtained at Adams 12 Five Star Schools the district's choice office at the Educational Support Center, 1200 E. 128th Ave, Thornton, and online
Open-enrollment deadline: March 15, 2007

Adams-Arapahoe 28 (Aurora Public Schools)

303-344-8060

If your child lives in the district and simply wants to change schools, check out the school’s policy on open enrollment within the district.

If you live outside the district check out the school’s policy for non-resident students wanting to enroll in the district.

Open-enrollment deadline: May 1^st.

Boulder Valley School District
303-245-5900

Boulder Open Enrollment

Cherry Creek School District
720-554-4555
Applications are only available at the district schools, none are available online.  Limited open enrollment information can be obtained here.
Cherry Creek School District Open Enrollment deadline is February 1, 2007.  Non-residents open-enrollment opens April 1, 2007

Denver Public Schools
720-423-3493
School of Choice Office (includes brochures, applications, deadlines):
First round open-enrollment deadline: February 28, 2007
Second round open-enrollment deadline: March 1-Aug. 31, 2007

Douglas County Re-1
303-387-0100
Online open-enrollment applications, including lists of schools limite or closed to outside applicants.
Deadline for Douglas County Schools Open-Enrollment: January 16, 2007

Jefferson County Public Schools
303-982-6500
Parents' page (includes enrollment forms)

First-round open-enrollment deadline: February 16 to August 30, 2007

Denver to be the site of the Democratic National Convention

   It is official, after months of anticipation and working out kinks, the National Democratic Convention will be hosted by Denver this  August 2007.

The event is expected to bring 40,000 visitors to the Colorado Capitol with an economic windfall of $150-200 million dollars.  Most of the events will be held in the Pepsi Center with others in the newly expanded Colorado Convention Center.

The last time the Convention was held in Denver was 99 years ago in 1900!  At that time the attendees were treated to a snowball fight in the streets of Denver.  Judging by the snowfall we have had so far...maybe the snow won't have to be imported!  (just kidding folks!)

Denver blizzard of 2006

The snow couldn't have come at a more inconvenient time.  Thousands of holiday travelers are being delayed, inconvenienced and disappointed for their holiday plans.  DIA ~ Denver International Airport has been housing nearly 5000 stranded travelers. 

Today after two days of being closed, the first two runways opened.  Planes are now taking off and landing, but not enough to ease the congestion.  The news reported the traffic going into the airport goes as far as the eye can see.  People want to proceed with the holiday, they might get lucky, but most likely everyone is going to be late.

It's a sad situation, but not one that can be blamed on anyone but Mother Nature.  Who's to predict a blizzard of this scale?  Nobody can.  All we can do is be patient and thing of the good things we have.  No one died in the blizzard, we all came out safe.  Yes, it's an inconvenience, but so what.  Change is good.  Slowing down for a day or two is OK.  Let's kick back and enjoy this temporary state of weather.

Colorado is Closed

Thanks to The Holiday Blizzard of 2006 Colorado is CLOSED!

The highways to the borders in every direction are closed (with the exception of the Denver metro area).  If you are in Colorado you are here until the storm passes.  If you aren't here, you won't be getting here anytime soon. 

The snow is supposed to stop by late morning on Thursday. DIA is scheduled to remain closed until 7 p.m. Thursday.  Until the snow stops these are just estimates.

All in all the storm for me has been fun.  I knew it was coming so I planned to not travel, except to the grocery store. That for me,  was excitment enough.  I got out and back ok, but when I tried to get the car in the garage, I ended up beaching it on the unplowed street.  So, instead of having a workout at the gym today, I subsituted a workout with a snow shovel.  I shoveled my driveway and part of the street.  My car is safely in the garage and that is where it will stay.

I feel sorry for the 3000 people stranded at the Airport.  It's been reported some may not reach their destination  until Sunday. That's a long time.  I wish I could help.

Zoo Lights

The Holidays at the Denver Zoo are filled with bright lights and happy smiles...see for yourself.

Surprising Stats on the Economic Impact of Culture

  Visitors to Denver owe thanks to the forward thinking voters in 1988 who approved a one- tenth of one percent sales tax increase to support scientific and cultural facilities within the metro area.  The SCFD  (Scientific & Cultural Facilities District) was created to provide funding to scientific and cultural organizations.   The results have been bountiful.

more on culture...

SE Line of Light Rail Officially Open Today

• Commuters will be delighted to know the long wait is over.  The gala week long celebrations of RTD's light rail have ended, today the light rail goes into service.

RTD has added 19 miles of new light rail service, 13 new light rail stations, 11 new bus routes, 10 new or expanded call-in-rides, 12 new park-n-ridges and nearly 7,000 new parking spaces.

View RTD's Comprehensive Website dedicated exclusively to the Southeast Light Rail line; SoutheastLightRail.com

• Maps of the new light rail and bus system
• An interactive map to help you plan your trip
• Light rail and bus schedules
• Fare information, including how and where to buy tickets and passes
• Tools to help you find the light rail station nearest you
• Details on how your commute  might change, even if you only take the bus
• Links to help plan your trip on any portion of RTD's light rail and bus system

Jurasic Leaves at the Pearl Street Station

Lincoln Station ~ End of the Line

Lone Tree and other residents of Douglas County are anxiously awaiting the opening of the new Light Rail line later this month.  Right now the trains are running on schedule, without passengers.  Guess that's all about  making sure everything works safely before passengers start boarding.

Whenever I see the empty trains running quickly alongside I-25 I get thrilled to think...it's almost time to board. 

Lone Tree, Colorado the end of the Line!

FasTracks We Aren't Done Yet...

Denver metro residents remember passing the FasTracks the rapid-transit buildout that will integrate buses and trains.  Liz Rao, the new director says her biggest challenge will be to keep the whole project on time and under budget.

The time table for the project is 10 years.  That seems like a mightly long time. We have the permission to get the money....why so long?

Go Liz, let's pick up the pace.  We want it all now!  Pretty please?

Read the whole story the The Rocky Mountain News

Denver's Airport Neighborhood

Blogging is a great way to speak what's on my mind.  There are tons of topics, but sometimes I wish there was a forum where I could speak to the readers questions.  Each day I troll through my blogs to see how my blog is being called up via the search engines.

Today I noticed a search for "Denver's airport neighborhood".  This search term came up on several different engines.  I suspect the searcher was not finding what she/he was looking for.  I will attempt  to answer it.

Denver's airport neighborhood could be 3 totally different answers;

1. Denver's old airport of over 10 years ago was located at the site of Stapleton.  The airport was relocated to a new location and changed it's name to Denver International Airport or DIA.  On the former airport site is a brand new community called "Stapleton".  This awesome neighborhood has housing to fit all price ranges.  It's a hot community to live it and is located about 12 minutes to downtown Denver.
2. There is a new neighborhood being built near the new airport (DIA) it is called Reunion.  The area is being developed by Shea homes and features new homes built by a variety of builders.  The closest towns are Commerce City to the south and Brighton to the north.
3. There is a neighborhood called Lochbuie, located just north of Brighton over the county line in Weld County. This neighborhood was designed for flying enthusiasts who own their own airplanes. Homes have hangars and instead of the normal cul-de-sac you will find a runway.

So which of these answers fits the question?  I don't know, but I hope one works...if not drop me a line!

Kristal Kraft specializes in relocation to the Denver Metro Area.

Denver's Blackmail boxes ~ we aim to serve!

Walking around the city, art can be found everywhere.  Some I understand, others I scratch my head and chuckle.

These three black mail boxes each have a different saying on them.

"I told you  never to call me here someone will find out"

"I have evidence of your secret life"

"I'll send the negatives to the police if you don't send money"

Scratching my head and laughing, humor is good.  But what does this mean?

Ah I get it! Blackmail boxes.

Foot Bridge to Denver

The pedestrian bridge from Northwest Denver to Riverfront is currently under-construction over Interstate 25.  Residents of the area on both sides of the walking bridge are excited for the convenience the bridge will bring to their neighborhoods.  Crossing over at 16th Street connecting the Denver Highlands with a pedestrian path to the 16th Mall and the Free bus.